Luminous sign



H. O. WOLF LUMINOUS SIGN July 26, 1938.

Filed Nov. 28, 1956 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES.

2,125,009 rm vmwous srGN Howard 0. Wolf, Grand Junction, Colon, assignor I of forty-nine percent to Harry E. Burnett,

Grand Junction, Colo.

Application November 28, 1936, Serial No. 113,215 1 This invention relates to signs and particularly to signs using neon lamps or tubes for-the formation of letters, figures or other devices.

. The general object of this invention is to provide a sign of this character which is particularly suitable for house numbers or for advertising or display purposes in which a neon or other luminous tube is partially embedded in a block of concrete, plaster of Paris, or other suitable initially plastic material, and in which the transformer is also embedded within the block, there being connections from the terminals or electrodes of the luminous tube to the transformer and from the transformer to a plug whereby the transformer may be connected up to a source of electricity.

Another object is to provide a structure of this character in which the luminous tube is protected against breakage and forms one unit with the transformer so that the block. may be moved from place to place whenever necessary to be used.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign unit constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the gas tubes and the transformer with its connections, the mass of the block being shown in dotted lines.

. Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, Ill designates a hard, rigid block of plaster of Paris, concrete or other suitable initially plastic material, and II designates the luminous tube which is partially embedded within .the front face of the block. This tube has certain portions I2 which are beneath the face of the block, so that they are thereby obscured, and the usual terminals I3 containing the electrodes. Also embedded in the rear portion of the block II] when it is formed -is a transformer l4 such as is used with neon or other gas tubes, this transformer having the usual pri'mary and secondary coils, the primary coils of the transformer being connected by wires to a plug l5 of the same character as the ordinary electric light plug which is embedded within the upper face of the concrete block, the end face of the plug being, of course, flush with the upper face of the block l0 so as to permit the insertion of the usual terminals of a conductor. Also embeded in the block in any desired position are the metallic straps or irons l6 apertured to permit the block to be supported on nails or may be supported by means of the iron It.

screws in any position desired. Opening to the transformer it are tubes ll which open upon the exterior faces of the block, preferably the end faces, these tubes if being for ventilating purposes. Of course, it is to be understood that the 5 transformer, the conductors extending therefrom to-the plug it and to the terminals of the gas tube are to be covered with moisture-proof material of any suitable character so that,air can circulate around the coils and laminations and m around the moisture-proof material, this ventilating system being necessary in order to secure long life for the transformer.

In the formation of this unit, the tube M with its connecting wires is disposed on the bottom of 1d a mold or in a form of desired shape, and into this form is poured melted wax to one-half the diameter of the tubing, so that the outer half of the tubing is disposed within the wax. That por-' -tion of the unit which is still exposed above the 20 wax embedrnent is now painted with melted, wax l8 so that a very thin layer of wax covers the whole of the glass tubing surface. The com position to be-used for the block is then poured into the mold a sufficient depth as to cover the 25 tubing I l The transformer which has been completely covered with moisture-proof material is then laid in the form with the necessary brackets l6 protruding. The electrical connections are then made between the transformer andthe wires 30 leading from the terminals of the tube and from the transformer to the plug l5. Then the small pieces of tubing ll are inserted into the casing of the transformer, as before described, and then the form is ready to be completely filled with casting material. After the material has hardened, the form is removed, and the surface of the block is finished in any desired way or I painted in any desired design.

Obviously, the material from which the block is 40 made may have any desired composition provided the resultant block is hard and rigid when completed and, obviously this material may be given i a very ornamental form as, for instance, have the character of imitation marble, imitation wood or be variously ornamented or colored.

It will be, seen that I have provided a light display unit in which'the gas tube is thoroughly protected against breakage and in which the conducting wires are also thoroughly "protected against breakage or damage of any kind. The

plug l5 permits the unit to be readily connected up in an electric circuit at any desired place. The block may either rest on some support or My advice is particularly suitable for house numbers or for advertising and display. All of the partsare thoroughly protected from weather or damage. It will be seen that while I have illustrated only one tube formed to display a number at the middle of the block and two vertical lines at the ends of the block settingoif the number, yet two or more tubes'may be used and different gases may be used so as to secure the display of one color for. the middle portion of the .block and the display of another color for the vertical portions of the tube on each side of the middle portion.

It will be understood that the wax coating I! which immediately surrounds the tube on the inside face thereofpermitsuexpansion and contraction of the glass tube and thus prevents breakage of the tube because of the changes in tem perature.

Obviously, I do not wish to be limited to the exact form of block as illustrated. This might be varied in many ways without departing from aiaiooo and these are of well known and obvious construction but in actual practice an open type transformer is used in which the core and coils are wrapped in friction tape and rubber tape, shellaced and dipped in gilsonite. The vents H, as before stated, are for the purpose of ventilating around the coils and laminations and beneath the tape.

What is claimed is:

As-an article of manufacture, a sign unit including a hard and rigid body of initially plastic opaque material, a gas tube having display portions partially embedded in the front face of said body and having other portions fully embedded therein, a transformer entirely embedded within the rear portion of the body, electrical connections between the ends of the tube and the secondary coil of the transformer and entirely embedded within the body, a terminal embedded within one face of the body and constructed and arranged to receive electrical conductors, electrical connections between the terminal and the primary coil of the transformer embedded in the body, the body being formed with ventilating ducts at the rear portion of the body opening to the transformer.

HOWARD O. WOLF. 

